boys and their toys

t.r.o.u.b.l.e

these two can find some trouble together! but truth be told. sometimes i just let them do it! if it means they are content and playing together nicely... it is worth it!!

next step: teach them that putting everything away is just as fun as getting it out in the first place!!

trouble i tell ya!!

a day in the life

this girl is full of joy!! that is one of the things i love the most about her. she has this huge, almost fake belly laugh that she lets out when she thinks something is hilarious... i hope she never loses that laugh! she makes me laugh several times a day and does some of the silliest things. we don't have many dress up clothes yet because she just didn't seem to be in that 'stage' yet. but we are now seeing the tutu and ranger hat make their appearance a few times a day. maybe a random necklace thrown in there every once and awhile for good measure! i love seeing her imagination blossom! so... here you have it... a day in the life of miss elliana grace! lovin' the tutu playing with sticks

going down slides

dancing... with the stars

special cousin time

and last but not least... reading... to her donkey... in a ranger hat! this girl has style!

hope your day is as joyfully random as our sweet elli's usually are!

homer

i think God places people in your life because He know you are going to need them. you going to need them to celebrate the joys of this life with. but you are also going to need them when it feels like your world is crumbling. homer was one of those people who was dropped into my life when i was about 5 years old. homer and his wife joyce lived 1/4 mile east and about a 1/2 north from my parents home. he and his wife would walk around the section everyday and would pass by our house. i remember a couple times that they would stop and sit on our front porch to chat before finishing their walk. joyce battled cancer and eventually passed away. homer became an even bigger part of our life after joyce was gone.

my mom became homer's walking partner and they would "solve all the problems of the world" on their walks. a lot of heart to hearts took place on those dirt roads. homer would attend our grandparents days in grade school, was present at our home many christmas mornings, celebrated every birthday with us. he was always so thoughtful in picking out gifts. i specifically remember a red floral dress that he chose for me because he thought it looked beautiful with my dark hair and eyes. he chose blue for my sister since she had blonde hair and blue eyes. one special birthday he took me on a date. we went out to dinner and then he took me to sam's club to pick out a special silver watch. homer was an avid collector. specifically he loved old cars, stamps, coins, antiques and war memorabila and the list goes on. one day he brought over bags and bags of stamps as he wanted to give my siblings and i the opportunity to share in his passion for stamp collecting. homer gave the biggest hugs... and i knew i would hear the words "oh honey" everytime i saw him . these are the things life is made of. the memories. homer gave us more opportunities to make special memories than i can list off. i'm just thankful.

homer passed away last sunday, april 3. he was 89 years and 11 months old. that sounds like a really long life, and it is... but i honestly thought homer would at least hit 100. he always seemed so young for his age. i'm thankful for the 23 years that i got to have him in my life... they will impact me for the rest of my days.

i guess the main thing i will take away from my experience with homer is the importance of holding onto those people that God plops in your lap. the relationship won't always be perfect, you won't always agree on everything, and sometimes you are going to need to love one another even when it doesn't feel good... but in the end you will come away blessed by that person, and hopefully you blessed them in some way also.